Airship.



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AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1909.

Patented June 10, 1913;

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1909.

Patented June 10, 1913. v

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1909.

Patented June 10, 1913.

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APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 13, 1909.

Patented June 10, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV.13, 1909.

Patented June 10, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV.13, 1909.

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APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 13, 1909.

Patented June 10, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1909.

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v Q@ xfi AWR HERMAN LEINEWEBER, OF SOUTH CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIRSHIP.

Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1913.

Application filed November 13, 1809. Serial No. 527,784.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN LEINEWEBER, a citizen of the'United States,.resi.ding at South Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Airships, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to air-ships of the type involving the use of propellers for producing propulsion of the machine. Airships of this variety as hitherto constructed.

present the main objection of instability when in the air due to the absence of means for overcoming the tilting thereof, as when struck by gusts of wind, or whenthe position of objects in the car is changed,'this objection being a serious one as it renders the ship unsafe.

My primary object is to provide in an airship of the type referred to means for maintaining the ship in balanced condition, while traveling through the air under varying conditions, which shall be operative automatically to right the ship in case it tilts from end to end, or laterally, from any one of the various causes which tend to throw the ship out of balance.

Other objects are to provide means under the control of an operator for driving the ship either forward or backward at the desired height from the ground, and for controlling the speed of ascent and descent of the ship to provide for the independent operation andcontrol of the several propeller mechanisms; and, in general, to provide improvements to the end of rendering the airship safe and easy to steer and control.

Referring to the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a view in side elevation of an air-ship of the monoplane type constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view-in end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. I viewed from either end. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, in the nature of a diagram, with the plane and top of the car or body removed, showing the several propeller devices in different positions of adjustment relative to the body. Fig. 4. is a view of the machine in'longitudina-l vertical sectional elevation. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the fuel-tanks, airtanks, piping connecting the latter with compressed airengines for changing the positions of the propeller-means with relation to the body,'and showing means for controlling the supply of air to the motors, the constructions shown herein being located in the body, or car, below a falseflooring therein. Fig. 6 is a section taken at the line ti on Fig. 3 and enlarged, this view showing in elevation and partly in section one of a plurality of similar propeller mechanisms located at the opposite sides of the car. Fig. 7 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of the propellers shown in Fig. 6 and the gearmechanism by which they are operated. Fig. 8 is a section taken at the line 8 on Fig. 6 and viewed in the direct-ion of the arrow. Fig. 9 is a face view of one of a plurality of similar rotatable rings shown in Fig. 6 affording bearings'for the shafts of the propeller-devices and through the medium of which the latter are bodily movable, for changing the angle at which they incline with relation to the car. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the air-motor-controlling device or board located in the body of the car. Fig. 11 is a plan sectional view taken at the line 11 on Fig. 13 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 12 is a view in elevation either from the front or rear of said board. Fig. 13 is a view in side elevation of the board shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, viewed from either side. Fig. 14 is a section taken at the line 14: on Fig. 11 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, the valves therein shown being in position to automatically operate air-motors for maintaining the ship in normally horizontal or balanced condition while the latter is moving in a forward direction. Fig. 15 is a view like that of Fig. lt-showing the valves in position to automatically operate the air-motors for maintaining the ship in balanced condition while the latter is moving in the rearward direction. Fig. 16 is a view like that of Fig. 14 showing the latter carrying the controlling means for the air-motors, tilted laterally, and illustrating the way in which the automatically-operated valves for directing the flow of compressed air to the air-motors are actuated. Fig. 17 is a section taken at the line 17 on Fig. 11 and viewed in the direction of thearrow, showing the automatically-operated valves in normal position. Fig. 18 is a section taken at the line 18 on Fig. 11 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 19 is a section taken at the line 18 on Fig. 11, but showing the hand-operated valves for controlling the air-mot0rs at one side of the ship, in position, as to the one in the left-hand side of this figure, to permit of the operation of the automatic air-motor-controlling means when the machine is traveling in a rearward direction. Fig. 20 is a 'view like that-of Fig. 14 showing the left-hand end of the construction therein" presented, this view showing the hand-operated valve in a position for permitting air to enter the air-motor controlled thereby for rotating it in one direction; and Fig. 21 is a view like that of Fig. 20, showing this hand-operated valve in position to reverse the flow of air to the airmotor and reverse the direction of movement of the latter. Fig. 22 is a perspective view of one of a number of similar rods for operating the manually controlled airvalves, showing a toggle-device for connecting the lever to its coiiperating valve for moving it longitudinally of its casing or turning it therein. Fig. 23 is a broken vertical section taken through one of a plurality of similar manually-operated air-controlling valves, showing the valve in position for permitting automatic operation of the air-pumps when the ship is traveling in the rearward direction. Figs. 24, 25 and 26 are cross sections taken through the valve shown in Fig. 23 at the lines 24,25 and 26, respectively, on this figure and viewed in the directions of the arrows. Fig. 27 is a plan view of a modification of the plane of 'theship illustrated in the preceding figures.

this modification involving the provision of a gas-bag in connection with the plane for enhancing the lifting action. Figs. 28 and 29 are broken sections taken at the lines 28 and 29, respectively, on Fig. 27 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 30 is a view in side elevation of the construction illustrated in Fig. 27; and Fig. 31 is a view in end elevation thereof, viewed from either end. Fig. 32 isa plan view of a stationary engine which. may be employed as the propeller-operating means in place of the rotatablymounted engine of the preceding figures, this view showing the gear connections between the engine and propellermembers. Fig. 33 is a section taken at the line 33 in Fig. 32 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 34 is a plan view of an engine connected with the propellermembers in a different way from the engines of the preceding figures, to permit the engine to be located a considerable distance to one side of the propeller-shafts; and Fig. 35 is a section taken at the line 35 on Fig. 34 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

The machine in connection with which I have chosen to illustrate my invention is of the monoplane type, formed with a body or car 36 supported from a plane 37. This plane, which is preferably of rectangular shape, as illustrated, is formed of a series of noeaaaa parallel spaced rods 38 and 39 (FigY-i) ex tending longitudinally and transverse y of the plane and tied together in any suitable manner, the frame thus provided supporting a covering 40 of any suitable material, such as canvas, though such covering may "-be made of light-weight plates, if desired. The plane 37 ls-preferably formed with its longitudinally-extending marginal portions deflected downwardly, as represented in Fig. 2, and has its end-portions, by preference, slightly inclined upwardly from itsstraight central portion, as indicated at 41, whereby when the ship is propellel through the air, as hereinafter described, these deflected inclined end-portions operate as'aero planes and thus aid in the lifting action of the propellers, as hereinafter clearly described. The body, or car, 36, is preferably formed of a shell 42 rounded on its under cated at 45, and at their lower ends with the sides. of the car, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The frame for supporting the propellers.

is represented at 46, (Fig. 3). This frame is preferably of rectangular shape and formed of tubing supported from the plane 37, to surround the car and extend midway between the top and bottom thereof, by cables 47 (Fig. 1), which are connected with the plane and with the tubing as represented. The frame 46 is preferably formed of parallel sidemembers 48 and end-members 49 reinforced by transversely-extending rods 50 spaced apart, bow-shaped brace-rods 51 being connected at their ends with the side members 48 and the car, and intermediate their ends with the cross-rods 50, whereby the whole frame-structure is rigidly tied together and braced; and non rotary shafts 52, alternating with said cross-rods, are secured at their opposite ends to the framemembers 48, the central ones of the rods 50 and the shafts 52 extending through the sides of the car 36 and serving, in connection with the rods 44 and cables 47, to afford the desired rigidity to. the structure. Each of the shafts 52 has journaled upon it, in the .car, a pair of engine-casings .53 and 54 3 and 6) Iocated on op osite sides of each supporting-shaft 52, eacfi of which shafts 55 and 55" carries a pinion 56 meshing with an idle-gear 57 journaled on the supporting shaft 52 for insuring the simultaneous operation of the shafts 55 and 55 of each set at the same speed, it being understood that one of the gears57 is provided for each set of pinions 56. On the opposite ends of each of the shafts 52 sleeves 58 are journaled, (Fig. 7,) each of these sleeves being provided with hollow lateral extensions 59 and 60, the opposed walls of the extensions 59 affording bearings 61 and 62 for the outer ends of the shafts 55, and the opposed Walls of the extensions 60 forming bearings 63 and 64 for the outer ends of the shafts 55 and stub-shafts 65. The outer ends of the shafts 55 and 55 are provided with bevel pinions 66 and 67 located in'the interior of the extensions 59 and 607 respectively, the pinions 66, which are fixed on the shafts 55, mesh ing with similar beveled gears 68 secured on the inner ends of shafts 69 journaled in the extensions 59 and extending at right angles to the shafts 55, the pinions 68 hearing at their fiat faces against roller-bearings 7 O confined in these extensions, beveledgears 71 journaled on stub-shafts 73 secured in and extending laterally of the sleeves 58 and similar gears 72 journaled on the outer ends of the shafts 55, respectively, meshing with each other and with the pinions 66 and 68. The pinions 67 fixed on the shaft 55 mesh with similar beveled pinions 74 fixed on the inner ends of stub-shafts 75 journaled in the extensions 60 to extend at right-angles to the shafts 52 and bear against rollers 76 inthese extensions, the pinions 67 and 74 meshing, respectively, with beveled idle pinions 77 and 78 loosely journaled on the shafts 75 and stub-shafts 65. The outer ends of the shafts 69 and 75 carry the cooperating members of the propellers for lifting and propelling the ship,

these propellers being each preferably formed with a hub 79 and oppositely-disposed inclined vanes 80. The propellers are clamped between roller-bearings 81 in the extensions 59 and 60 and plates 82, by nuts 83 screwed on the outer ends of the shafts 69 and 75, the latter passing through the hubs of the propeller members. The propellers operated by each set of engines con tained in the casings 53 and 54 are arranged in parallel relation as represented in Fig. 6 and preferably with the axes of the blades set at right-angles to each other, though they may be adjusted to cause them to extend at any other angle as hereinafter described. The blades of the coeperating propeller members are arranged at the same angle to cause them to operate as a single propeller, the propellers on one side of the ship rotating in a contrary direction to those on the metal lining 89,

opposite side of the ship; in other words, all the propellers may be caused to rotate toward the ship or away from the ship as desired, this being provided for upon the installation of the propelling devices in the ship. v

.luach pair of shafts 523 and 55 is journaled between the pinions 56, 66 and 67 in bearings 84 in a wheel 85 (Fig. (3), which is journaled in an opening 36 in the casing side and on sleeves 87 and S8 journaled on the cotiperating shaft 52, the opening 86 in the casing being preferably provided with a ring 87, of 'wood or any other suitable material, having its central opening lined with metal as indicated at 89, roller-bearings 90 and 91 being confined between the outer periphery of the wheel 85 and the and the inner periphery of this wheel and the sleeve 68, respectively, whereby resistance to the rotation of the wheel 85 in the side of the car is reduced to the minimum. Each of the wheels 85, one ofwhich is provided for each set of shafts 5'5 and 55, is formed with annular flanges 92 between which and removable flanges 93 on these wheels, the latter are held in position against movement through the openings in the rings S7 when the wheels are turned upon the shafts 52 supporting them, for the purpose hereinafter described.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the car 36 carries at opposite sides beyond its shell 42 a series of propeller-devices arranged in pairs, the members of each pair being adapted to be operated simultaneously as a single propelling-device, the cbjcct of arranging the propellers in pairs on opposite sides of the non-rotary shafts supporting them, be ing that of causing the propellers to be evenly balanced on these shafts.

In a machine of this character it is highly desirable that the propellers be capable of bodily movement for changing the angle at which they extend with relation to the car and that this operation of the propellers be under perfect control for effecting ascension of the ship, varying the angle at which it is propelled through the air either upwardly or downwardly, and for effecting reversal of the movement of the ship. The provision of the engines in the casings and 54 and the propeller devices rotatable about their supporting shafts 52, permits of the changing of the angles at which the propellers extend with relation to the car, the following described means operating under the control of a single operator for thus bodily shifting any one or more of the pros pellers independently of the ethersf Lo-Q rated in the bottom of the car 36 and trally thereof, are a plurality of tanks 9 i (Fig. 5) connected together by a pipe,9;o, 130

and adapted to be filled with air under pres sure through a pipe 96 from a pair of airpumps 97 of any suitable type and operated in any desirable manner and located at one end of the car 36. The tanks 94 are connected with an operating board 98 through the medium of pipes 99 and 100 which communicate with parallel conduits 101 (Figs. 11 and 17) in the board, these conduits opening into two pairs of crossconduits 102 and 103 located in the opposite end-portions of the board, whereby air under pressure admitted into the pipes 100 by opening a valve 10-1 (Fig. 5) inthe pipe 99 fills the conduits 101, 102 and 103 which are preferably disposed horizontally as shown. Each of. the conduits 103 opens into a plurality of valve-housings 105 spaced apart and disposed at right-angles to these conduits, the conduits 102 opening into similar, but smaller, valve-housings 106, ar-

- ranged in a series parallel with the housings 105 and opposing the latter, as represented in Fig. 11, the number of the sets of housings, each comprising a housing 105 and 106, corresponding to the number of propeller-devices. In the construction illustrated, six propeller-devices and six sets of housings are provided. Each of the valvehousings'105 is connected with its opposite companion housing 106 by upper and lower conduits 107 and 108, respectively, (Figs. 14 and 23), and each housing 105 communicates with upper and lower conduits 109 and 110 connecting with pipes 111 and 112, respectively, each set of the pipes thus provided opening into acompressed air engine 113 of any suitable type, the rotarymemher of which is adapted to be operated in either direction by changing the direction of the flow of compressed air through it, one of such motorsbeing provided for each of the propeller mechanisms illustrated in Fig. 6. These motors are preferably supported on the false-flooring 114: of the car 36 at points adjacent to the propeller mechanisms with which they cooperate The driveshaft 115 of each motor carries a sprocket 116 connected by a sprocket-chain 117 with a sprocket 118 fixed on arotatable shaft 119 journaled in spaced bearings 120 (Fig. 8) adjustably secured to the inside of the car 36, the shafts 119 carrying Worms 121 which mesh with worm-wheels 122 rigid on the rotatable rings 85, whereby operation of the air-motors, ashereinafter described, rotates the worms 121 and causes the rings 85, the engines in the casings 53 and 54 and the propellers operated thereby to turn about the supporting shafts 52 in either direction, dependin upon the course of the com pressed a1r through the air-motors, for varying the position of the propeller-blades with relation to the car and causing them to extend horizontally as indicated of certain turning, to thus maintain the propellers in j,

the position of adjustment to which they are moved by operating the air-motors. The operation of the rotary members of the airmotors in either direction is under the complete control of the operator who is ositioned at the board 98, through the me ium of valve-devices located in the latter, and of which the following is a description: Each of the valve-housings 105 contains a rotatable and longitudinally reciprocable valve 123 (Fig. 14:) formed with a peripherally reduced central portion affording an annular channel 124. between heads 125 and 126 circular in cross-section and having a sliding fit in the respective housing 105; two transverse parallel ports 127 and 128 spaced apart and adapted to register with the conduits 107 and 109 and 108 and 110,

respectively, when the valve is in one position as represented in Fig. 14, and crossports 129 and 130, the port 129 being adapted to be moved into registration with the conduits 107 and 110 and the port 130 with the conduits 108' and 109, respectively, when the valve is rotated from the position illustrated in Fig. 14 to that represented in Fig. 15, the arrangement of the parallel ports 127 and 128 and the cross-ports 129 and 130 being clearly illustrated in Figs. 23 to 26 inclusive. The valves 123 are adapted to be manually operated each independently of the other by means of rotatable slide-rods 131, one for each valve 123, these rods being journaled between their ends, beneath the board 98 near its opposite ends, and in parallel superposed condition, as represented in Figs. 12 and 1-3, in depending bracketmembcrs 132, and at their extremities they carry hand-levers 133 rigid therewith through the medium of which they may be moved back and forth and simultaneously rotated. The rods 131 are connected with the valves 123 by means of toggle-levers 134 each pivoted to its supporting-rod 131, as indicated at 135 (Fig. 22) and to a depending extension 136 on its coiiperating valve 123, as indicated at 137 (Fig. 15), the axes .upon which each of these toggle mechanisms the conduits 107, 109, 108 and 110, a-s-hereinbefore described and illustrated in Fig.

14; or the cross-ports 129 and 130 may be caused to extend into operative position, as

indicated in Figs. 15 and 23; or the heads 125 and 126 may be brought into registra- 1 tion with the conduits 109 and 110 and thus close these conduits to the assage of air from the conduits 101 to the a1r-motors, each valve 123 being adapted to be independently I operated for the purpose above stated through the medium of its cooperating rod 131.

Each of the valve-housings 106 (Figs. 14 and 15) contains a vertically-movable valve 138- formed with heads 139 and a reduced central portion 140, these heads being so spaced that they will close the ports 1 07 and 108 opening int-o'the respective housings 106 when the valves 138 are in one position. Fulcrumed, as indicated at 141 and 142, on depending brackets 143 and 144 carried by the board 98 on its under side, are penduh-nns 145 and 146, respectively, one of the pendulums 145 being provided for the end sets of valves 139, and one of the pend-ulums 146 being provided for each of the two intermediate valves 139, these pendulums being disposed at opposite sides of the median line of the car, as represented. The pendulums' are provided with arms 1'47 and 148, respectively, which extend at rightangles to the depending portions of these pendulums, the arms 147 on the two pendulums at the rear end of the board, Viz., at the right-hand side of Fi 13, extending rearwardly, whereas the otor arms 147 extend forward, these arms being pivotally connected, as indicated at- 149, to depending extensions 150 on the valves 138. The arms 148 of the pendulums 14 6 pivoted, as described, extend transversely of the board in opposite directions of the median line of the 1 car, as clearly indicated at Fig. 12. it will thus be understood that by so pivoting the p-endulums 145 and 146, the pendulums 145 will operate the valves connected with them when the car carrying the board 98 is tilted longitudinally in either direction, and the pendulums 146 will operate the valves they control when the car is til-ted laterally in either direction, for the purposes hereinafter referred to.

The operation of the described construction is 'as follows: The car 36, to wh1ch the described upper-structure is r-1g1dly secured for maintaining the latter at the desired distance above the car, may normally rest on Wheels 151 on the ground. Preparatory to operating the car for raising it, the airpumps 97 are started to pump air into the tanks 94, whereupon the operator of the ship located at the'controlling-board 98, which latter, for convenience in describing the operation of the device, will be considered at the rear end thereof, rotates the rods 131 at the opposite sides of the board, to cause the valves 123 to move in their housings 125 to the position illustrated of the one in Fig. 210 and open the conduits 103, filled with compressed air, to the conduits 109 extending to each air-motor 113, through the medium of the channels 124 in these valves, thus permitting air under pressure to fiow to the air-motors, the latter in operating causing the propeller-members of all of the propellers to be swung bodily about their supporting shafts 52 to a position in which they extend at more or less of an angle to therein, cause the solid portions of the heads 1.25 and 126 to register with the conduits 109 and 111-0 and "thus shut off the flow of air to the air-motors, the worms 121 operated by these motors serving by their engagement with the ,gears 122 to lock the propelling mechanisms in adjusted osi ti'on about their supporting shafts 5.2. ith the propellers thus positioned relative to the car 36, the engines contained in the casings 54 and which, :as hereinhefone stated, may be of the internal combustion type supplied with the explosive mixture from carburetors 152, fed

with oil from tanks 153 in the car, are started into operation to rotate the propeller blades through the medium of the shafts 55 and 55*, the propeller devices on one side of the car operating in a direct-ion opposite to that in which the propellers on the opposite side of the car operate, as hereinbefore described. The ship, under the action of the propellers in beating against the air beneath them, will roll along on its wheels on the ground and then start to rise, taking :a course at an angle to the horizontal plane. When the propellers are set'to cause them in their action to lift the machine and drive it forward, the :front "inclined "portion 41 of the plane operates :to move against the air at an angle to the horizontal and thus the/action of the propellers in performing the lifting function is supplemented by the action of this plane, and the speed at which forwardly, again turns the rods 131 in the members 132 to cause. the channels 124 in the valves 123 to communicate with the conduits 110 for operating the air-motors to cause'the proipellers to incline at the desiredangle from out to rear. Thereupon, by rotating the rods-131 in the direction opposite to that just referred to, the valves 123 will be raised and the solid portions of the heads 125 and 126 will be caused to close .both conduits 109 and 110, thus permitting the worms 101-to lock the ropellers in adjusted position about t eir supporting shafts 52.

If descent of the ship is desired, it may be accomplished by either slowing down the speed of the propellers or by again rotating the rods 131 to cause the channels 124 in the valves 123 to register with the conduits 110, thus permitting air to pass into the air-motors in the direction above referred to, and turning the propellers about their supporting shafts 52 from the driving position to the left in Fig. 1, until they incline upwardly from front to rear, Whereupon the operator may, by moving the rods 131, shut off the supply of air to the airmotors, in which position the propellers will remain until the air-motors are again operated. If it is desired to raise the ship to a higher level, instead of depressing it, or after lowering it as described, the operator, by rotating the rods 131 in the opposite direction, will cause the channels 124 to register with the upper conduits 109, thus permitting air under pressure to flow into the air-motors in the direction opposite to that above referred to, with the result of turning the propellers to the right in Fig.

1 to the desired position of adjustment about their supporting shafts 52, in which position they may be held as hereinbefore de scribed.

The foregoing operation describes the machine as controlled manually by the operator by adjusting all of the propellers; but it will be understood that, as hereinafter fully explained, the rise and descent and propulsion of the machine maybe effected y operating certain ones only of the p11 peller mechanisms.

As is well known, an air-ship in traveling through the air is subject to air-currents, which, especially when flowing intermittently and producing gusts of wind, tend to tilt the ship and throw it out of its course, and unless this action is counteracted it may cause the machine to upset. Furthermore, the shifting of objects in the car tends to throw the latter out of balance with the results above stated. To counteract the injurious efiects produced by the our 7 rents of airand the shifting of-objects in the car and thus maintain the car in balanced condition while traveling through the air, I provide the pendulum-operated valve mechanisms herembefore described, the pendulums 145 and 146 thereof, by beingsupported on opposite sides of.the car tained flight, as hereinbefore described, the operatormay, in order to render the auto-- matic operation of the valve-means effective, actuate all of the rods 131 to move the valves 123 in their housings to the position illustrated of those in Fig-14, to cause the parallel ports 127 and 128 in these valves to register with the cooperating conduits 107, 109, 108 and 110, as therein illustrated, and thus provide direct communications from the housings 106 to the conduits 109 and 110. The valves 138 when in their normal condition, namely, when the ship occupies a horizontal plane while either traveling parallel with the earth-surface or through a path inclined ineither direction thereto, are caused by the pendulums 145 and 146 to close the conduits 107 and 108 to the housings 106. Should the ship, in traveling horizontally in a path paralleling the earth-surface or at anangle thereto, encounter air-currents to tilt the ship longitudinally, or should objects be moved in the car tending to throw it out of balance longitudinally, those of the valves 138 controlled by the pendulums 145 will be caused to move in the1r housings 106, as the pendulums always bang vertically. Thus, should the ship tilt upwardly at its forward end while traveling through the air, the end set of valves 138 at the forward end of the board will be drawn down in their housings to cause the lower conduits 108 and 110 to be open to the channels 140 in these valves and thus to the pipes 112, and the end set of valves 138 at the rear end of the board 98 will be raised in their housings to cause the upper conduits 107 and 109 cooperating therewith to register. with the channels 140 in these valves, whereby the air-motors for actuatin the front set of propellers at both sides 0 the car will be driven to cause these propellers and their operating engines to beturned about their cooperating shafts 52 supporting them to the left in Fig. 1, and the rear sets of propellers to be rotated to the right in Fig. 1. Thus operating the end sets of propellers will cause the front set thereof during their movement to the left in Fig. 1 to exert a pull downwardly and the rear sets of propellers to produce 

